Ole Miss kicks off lengthy homestand against No. 9 Texas A&M

Oxford, MS (SportsNetwork.com) - Hoping to snap a two-game losing streak, the
Ole Miss Rebels play just their second home game of the season when they
entertain the ninth-ranked Texas A&M Aggies in a pivotal SEC affair on
Saturday night.

Texas A&M brings a 4-1 record into the contest, and the team has split its
first two conference bouts -- losing at home to top-ranked Alabama (49-42) and
winning at Arkansas (45-33) two weeks later. The Aggies are coming off a bye,
and will play five in a row before getting another respite just prior to the
LSU game on Nov. 23.

Head coach Kevin Sumlin spoke recently about the benefits of getting a bye at
this point in the campaign.

"There are some teams where you don't want a week off, like last year. You're
a hot team and you want to keep playing. We need some time," He continued,
"We've played a lot of young guys. Everyone thinks about the physical strength
of playing through week five or six, but the harder part is the mental
strain."

Ole Miss is kicking off an unheard of six-game homestand, and it has won three
of its first five games, but is just 1-2 in the SEC after falling in each of
the last two weeks -- at Alabama (25-0) and at Auburn (30-22). The Rebels'
lone conference win came in the season opener at Vanderbilt, 39-35, and they
also have victories over FCS foe Southeast Missouri State (31-13) and Texas
(44-23) on their resume'.

Texas A&M has never lost to Ole Miss, going 5-0, and the Aggies took a 30-27
decision in last year's meeting.

Texas A&M is 5-0 in SEC road games all-time, and the team is going to need to
perform at an optimal level in all phases to have a shot at winning this bout
and running the table. The offense of course goes as 2012 Heisman Trophy
winner Johnny Manziel goes, and the standout signal caller hasn't disappointed
this season, completing 71.4 percent of his passes for 1,489 yards, 14 TDs and
only four interceptions, while also leading the team in rushing with 314 yards
and three scores. Ben Malena is close behind with 303 yards, and he has found
the end zone seven times, while Tra Carson has four rushing TDs. Mike Evans is
the club's leading pass catcher, having pulled down 28 balls for 691 yards and
five TDs. Malcome Kennedy has four TD receptions.

In the win over Arkansas prior to the off week, Manziel threw for 261 yards,
two TDs and no interceptions, hitting Evans six times for 116 yards and both
scores, while targeting Derel Walker seven times for 81 yards. Trey Williams
led the ground attack with 83 yards and a TD on nine carries.

Overall, A&M is averaging 586.4 yards per outing and has scored no fewer than
42 points in any game this season. Defensively, the Aggies have shown some
signs of weakness, with foes averaging 30.8 points and 476.8 yards per
contest. They have seven guys with at least 21 tackles, and three with 30 or
more. Howard Matthews leads the way with 36 stops, while Deshazor Everett has
31 tackles, two INTs and a fumble recovery. The Aggies have logged only four
sacks, a stat that needs to improve if they are going to the achieve their
goals for the season.

Led by QB Bo Wallace and RB Jeff Scott, the Ole Miss offense accounts for 27.2
points and 427.8 yards per game. Wallace is a 59 percent passer who has thrown
for 1,143 yards, six TDs and only two interceptions, while Scott has turned 49
carries into 424 yards and a pair of scores. Scott averages nearly nine yards
per carry.

Laquon Treadwell and Donte Moncrief head the receiving corps with a combined
47 catches, 605 yards and four TDs.

Moncrief tallied six receptions for 122 yards and a pair of TDs last week in
the loss to Auburn, helping Wallace generate a season-high 336 yards on 25-
of-48 passing. Wallace was picked off twice -- his first two picks of the
season. Ja-Mes Logan added five grabs for 92 yards, and Scott rumbled his way
to 66 yards on only six totes for the Rebels, who finished with 464 total
yards compared to 375 for the Tigers.

The Ole Miss defense was led by Denzel Nkemdiche and his nine tackles, while
Mike Hilton was right there with eight. The Rebels recovered a pair of fumbles
in the contest, but did not record a sack. Andrew Ritter booted three field
goals.

Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze was not happy about last week's game, but gave
credit where it was due.

"Obviously it was a disappointing loss. I thought they were well prepared and
they were a great football team, but we had our chances. We can't give them
points off turnovers like we did and we have to score touchdowns when we get
the opportunity," he went on to say, "We look forward to going home. The road
does not get much easier but at least we will have our people behind us and
pulling for us like we have experienced on the road."